By Mey Lyn Mitteenn / Metro / The Passenger
02 Nov 2023, 16:55 PM EDT
When Eleanor Sillerico was 15 years old she wanted to be a doctor. However, after volunteering at a local clinic in her native La Paz, Bolivia, she became more drawn to large infrastructure projects that help people get around. Today, Sillerico’s passion and dedication as a civil engineer have taken her to various parts of the world to carry out large and important projects. And since November 2019, she is the tunnel construction director for section 3 of the Metro Purple (D) Line Extension Transit Project.
His love for engineering came from his father, also a civil engineer. “He shared his books and plans with me when I was a student. My dad taught me about construction materials and equipment,” she recalls. Her father specializes in hydraulic engineering, which involves building dams to provide drinking water—something much needed in Bolivia. Several times he went with his family to see the inaugurations of new works. “I was impressed to see all the benefit that a dam could bring to hundreds of families with irrigation systems.”
The same feeling he had when his father built roads in rural areas. “People switched from driving from dirt to asphalt, which improved mobility to connect with other towns and helped reduce travel time. There I realized the impact that structures can have on a community and a city.”
In Bolivia, Sillerico supervised the construction of roads. Then, he moved to Spain where he did two master’s degrees, one in tunnels and another in geotechnics – to learn about the behavior of soil and its interaction with structures. She was hired at one of the five largest construction companies in Spain, where she spent seven years helping to build tunnels in Madrid and Malaga. Afterwards, she went to England and worked on the Crossrail Project, a 26-mile railway line that runs beneath central London. She was transferred to Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, to work on a hydroelectric project that included 20 miles of tunnels. After that, she returned to London to work on the design of some of the tunnels for the new British HS2 high-speed railway connecting London with the north of England.
It was precisely because of his tunnel experience that Metro welcomed him to the Purple Line (D) Extension Transit Project team, which seeks to expand the D Line westward with seven new stations from the Mid-Wilshire district to the West Los Angeles. Sillerico is providing construction management support for the completion of 2.56 miles of tunnels and cross passages in section 3, scheduled to open in 2027.
“The magnitude of the Metro project caught my attention and I was excited to be involved from the beginning using the tunnel boring machine (TBM). [una máquina similar a un cabezal giratorio con cuchillas que ayuda a excavar a través de roca y suelo]”says the engineer.
He adds that building with a TBM is very modern because, as the TBM excavates, it also creates an initial lining layer for the tunnel. “In the case of the purple line, the structure is a 13-inch thick reinforced concrete coating. It is very safe,” he says.
Sillerico is also in charge of checking the speed at which the machine moves, the thrust against the ground and the frontal pressure, among other things.
“Tunnels are fascinating challenges,” he says.
Among these challenges, depth is an important factor — for example, section 3 of the purple line is almost 120 feet deep at the deepest spot. Among other challenges are lighting, ventilation and temperature that will always be different from the surface level.
Furthermore, tackling new projects is something that Sillerico really enjoys.
“When you build a tunnel it goes from point A to point B and finishing it is rewarding. Then, you start again from scratch,” she expresses.
Last August, Sillerico went to London for his birthday, taking the Crossrail ?called the Elizabeth Line in honor of Queen Elizabeth II? and was moved to walk around the stations she helped design and build (Liverpool St. and Whitechapel).
“I stayed there for hours thinking about the effort it required. Now everything looks clean and well lit, but during the excavation, there was only a hole in the ground with workers covered in dust. “The construction of tunnels is sacrificed.”
Sillerico is proud to be a Latina involved in projects that leave a mark. A few months ago, she was invited to share her professional experiences with university engineering students in Bolivia, where she encouraged them to strive in their careers and told them that they can go far.
“It was also a message for women,” she explains. “Of the few who complete their degree, female engineers focus on the construction of roads, buildings, bridges and dams, but there are few who specialize in tunnels.”
He says that throughout his 20-year career in a “men’s business,” he has encountered some who have tried to minimize his achievements.
“If you are a woman, the challenge to reach leadership positions doubles, but you should not give up. If you are dedicated, willing to listen to constructive criticism and learn, no matter how much you know, believe me you can do it.”